MONROE - In many ways, Lance Smith still sees himself as a child.
Despite digging himself out of what felt like a hopeless time at one point and making what he considers a wonderful life, he says he just never really grew up.
It's helped him relate to his own children and also the children that surround him at Monroe Middle School in a classroom he says is filled with love. He's hoping to pass on the same sense of belonging and purpose to them, the way others did for him, to lead him to the path he's on today.
Smith was born in Monroe and grew up in town with a younger brother.
By third grade, Smith says he found some therapy and peace within music despite struggling with life. He also found a group of friends, many in a band, and Smith helped with sound at their concerts. He attended his first concert at 15, when he saw Iron Maiden in Madison.
The former Monroe High School student says he never really felt like he fit in. He often kept to himself but found a group of friends to whom he could relate. He suffered from health issues and missed several days of school, often hospitalized. After graduation in 1986, his low ACT score and lack of seeing the importance of education had him missing a plan for his life.
He continued to work at a record store in town while living at home. It's unexpected closing left Smith feeling lost once again.
"I really had nothing," he said. "I remember that being an awful feeling."
He worked construction for a few months and helped with his father's side business at home, along with taking on other odd jobs. He says he made sure to earn enough money for gas and music.
His mother worked as a paraprofessional at Abe Lincoln Elementary School. In the fall of 1988, Smith says, the school needed a substitute while she was gone. He had been in to help out at different times and was asked to fill in. They knew he often babysat for neighborhood children.
"My mom knew I had an even disposition and they were short on help," he said. "I had a lot of fun."
About a month later, a night janitor position opened at the school and Smith stepped in, often working as an aide during the day and cleaning the school at night.
His first job as a sub was working with a student who had cerebral palsy, a position he loved. He was encouraged by those at the school to work toward a special education license. By 1990, he became a full-time aide.
He took on a long-term substitute position at Parkside in the room for severe and intellectual disabilities, which soon felt like the start to a possible career. That fall, he met his wife, Karla, a new teacher, while cleaning her classroom.
Eventually, Smith made the decision to go back to school. He attended University of Wisconsin-Rock County in Janesville, where he says he had to prove himself after his high school slump. After three years of evening classes, he transferred to UW-Whitewater.
"School was important to me then," Smith said. "It was a great stepping stone."
In the spring of 1995, Smith took a leap of faith and put in for a leave of absence to focus on school. He and Karla were married two years earlier, and he says by then, he knew he was well on his way to becoming a special education teacher.
"Everyone said I was a natural and I was great with the kids," Smith said. "That really encouraged me."
He says Whitewater wasn't always easy, but he made lifelong friends. While there, Karla endured a massive brain tumor, he said, and underwent a long surgery and lost part of her vision. It was a tumultuous time, but despite that, Smith says he pushed forward, missing classes when necessary.
He graduated from Whitewater in 1998 with a degree in cognitive disabilities for first through ninth grades. He began working at Northside, landing a position that fall.
"I loved it," he said.
That was the same year he met one of his dearest friends and biggest encouragers, Nancy Boyle, who he worked with at the school.
"The first month I learned more about kids from her than through all of my school," Smith said.
The work was intense, Smith said, and each of his students had their own individualized plan. He worked hard and received support from his principal to bring in new plans and ideas. He says he learned one of his most important lessons from Nancy: There are two sides to every story, and there is no room for judgment.
Smith says he focused on his students' emotional IQ along with education and began working closely with their parents. He says he still talks to many parents on a daily basis and feels it's one of his biggest strengths.
Something he's proud of is implementing a Christmas meal with his students, a project each student works on, and he sees the reward of giving back to others. They serve more than 100 people each year.
"You just come into the room and feel the love," Smith said. "Someone once said that to me - and it's so true. That's exactly what I want."
Now in his fifth year at Monroe Middle School and 30th year with the district, Smith has continued the Christmas meal. When he hears from students and their parents on how their lives have changed, or their attitudes about their future, it's the most rewarding aspect of teaching.
"Each day, there is laughter in my room," Smith said. "And my team is wonderful."
Now with a master's degree under his belt, Smith says he would never ask any of his team members to do anything he wouldn't take on himself. He still enjoys the hands-on interaction with students he's reveled in for years.
"Family comes first with all of us," he said of his fellow employees. "They are loyal to me and myself to them."
He simply doesn't feel the burn-out others might experience in a similar position.
"I still feel like I've never grown up," Smith said. "I'm still kind of a kid. I have a lot of passion for things. I can still think like a kid."
Part of that is also surrounding himself and being heavily involved in the lives of his own children, Nathan, who just graduated as Monroe High School's valedictorian, and twin daughters, Erja and Elise.
"I'm glad I'm around my family in Monroe," Smith said, noting his brother also lives in town and the cousins are close. "I believe in the school system, and I'm glad for the quiet, rural area."
He also enjoys bike riding, putting on a few thousand miles each year when he can. He is passionate about health, working out, reading, DIY projects and photography.
He also still has a strong affinity for music, attending concerts whenever he can. He took up playing the violin for several years and hopes to return to it one day. He and Karla also enjoy traveling as often as they can.
The story of Smith's perseverance from having a 1.7 high school GPA to earning his master's degree has left him inspired to believe in anyone who crosses his path.
"I'm very fortunate," he said. "Opportunities opened up for me, but some of it was because others believed in me."
Despite digging himself out of what felt like a hopeless time at one point and making what he considers a wonderful life, he says he just never really grew up.
It's helped him relate to his own children and also the children that surround him at Monroe Middle School in a classroom he says is filled with love. He's hoping to pass on the same sense of belonging and purpose to them, the way others did for him, to lead him to the path he's on today.
Smith was born in Monroe and grew up in town with a younger brother.
By third grade, Smith says he found some therapy and peace within music despite struggling with life. He also found a group of friends, many in a band, and Smith helped with sound at their concerts. He attended his first concert at 15, when he saw Iron Maiden in Madison.
The former Monroe High School student says he never really felt like he fit in. He often kept to himself but found a group of friends to whom he could relate. He suffered from health issues and missed several days of school, often hospitalized. After graduation in 1986, his low ACT score and lack of seeing the importance of education had him missing a plan for his life.
He continued to work at a record store in town while living at home. It's unexpected closing left Smith feeling lost once again.
"I really had nothing," he said. "I remember that being an awful feeling."
He worked construction for a few months and helped with his father's side business at home, along with taking on other odd jobs. He says he made sure to earn enough money for gas and music.
His mother worked as a paraprofessional at Abe Lincoln Elementary School. In the fall of 1988, Smith says, the school needed a substitute while she was gone. He had been in to help out at different times and was asked to fill in. They knew he often babysat for neighborhood children.
"My mom knew I had an even disposition and they were short on help," he said. "I had a lot of fun."
About a month later, a night janitor position opened at the school and Smith stepped in, often working as an aide during the day and cleaning the school at night.
His first job as a sub was working with a student who had cerebral palsy, a position he loved. He was encouraged by those at the school to work toward a special education license. By 1990, he became a full-time aide.
He took on a long-term substitute position at Parkside in the room for severe and intellectual disabilities, which soon felt like the start to a possible career. That fall, he met his wife, Karla, a new teacher, while cleaning her classroom.
Eventually, Smith made the decision to go back to school. He attended University of Wisconsin-Rock County in Janesville, where he says he had to prove himself after his high school slump. After three years of evening classes, he transferred to UW-Whitewater.
"School was important to me then," Smith said. "It was a great stepping stone."
In the spring of 1995, Smith took a leap of faith and put in for a leave of absence to focus on school. He and Karla were married two years earlier, and he says by then, he knew he was well on his way to becoming a special education teacher.
"Everyone said I was a natural and I was great with the kids," Smith said. "That really encouraged me."
He says Whitewater wasn't always easy, but he made lifelong friends. While there, Karla endured a massive brain tumor, he said, and underwent a long surgery and lost part of her vision. It was a tumultuous time, but despite that, Smith says he pushed forward, missing classes when necessary.
He graduated from Whitewater in 1998 with a degree in cognitive disabilities for first through ninth grades. He began working at Northside, landing a position that fall.
"I loved it," he said.
That was the same year he met one of his dearest friends and biggest encouragers, Nancy Boyle, who he worked with at the school.
"The first month I learned more about kids from her than through all of my school," Smith said.
The work was intense, Smith said, and each of his students had their own individualized plan. He worked hard and received support from his principal to bring in new plans and ideas. He says he learned one of his most important lessons from Nancy: There are two sides to every story, and there is no room for judgment.
Smith says he focused on his students' emotional IQ along with education and began working closely with their parents. He says he still talks to many parents on a daily basis and feels it's one of his biggest strengths.
Something he's proud of is implementing a Christmas meal with his students, a project each student works on, and he sees the reward of giving back to others. They serve more than 100 people each year.
"You just come into the room and feel the love," Smith said. "Someone once said that to me - and it's so true. That's exactly what I want."
Now in his fifth year at Monroe Middle School and 30th year with the district, Smith has continued the Christmas meal. When he hears from students and their parents on how their lives have changed, or their attitudes about their future, it's the most rewarding aspect of teaching.
"Each day, there is laughter in my room," Smith said. "And my team is wonderful."
Now with a master's degree under his belt, Smith says he would never ask any of his team members to do anything he wouldn't take on himself. He still enjoys the hands-on interaction with students he's reveled in for years.
"Family comes first with all of us," he said of his fellow employees. "They are loyal to me and myself to them."
He simply doesn't feel the burn-out others might experience in a similar position.
"I still feel like I've never grown up," Smith said. "I'm still kind of a kid. I have a lot of passion for things. I can still think like a kid."
Part of that is also surrounding himself and being heavily involved in the lives of his own children, Nathan, who just graduated as Monroe High School's valedictorian, and twin daughters, Erja and Elise.
"I'm glad I'm around my family in Monroe," Smith said, noting his brother also lives in town and the cousins are close. "I believe in the school system, and I'm glad for the quiet, rural area."
He also enjoys bike riding, putting on a few thousand miles each year when he can. He is passionate about health, working out, reading, DIY projects and photography.
He also still has a strong affinity for music, attending concerts whenever he can. He took up playing the violin for several years and hopes to return to it one day. He and Karla also enjoy traveling as often as they can.
The story of Smith's perseverance from having a 1.7 high school GPA to earning his master's degree has left him inspired to believe in anyone who crosses his path.
"I'm very fortunate," he said. "Opportunities opened up for me, but some of it was because others believed in me."